Assessment of status, distribution and threats to snow leopard

and its prey in Kashmir

Riyaz Ahmad and Khursheed Ahmad

Other Project Team Members

Zaffar Rais

Iqram-ul-Haq malik

Mudasir Manzoor

Adil Dar

Waseem Ahmad Bhat

Executive Summary

Snow leopard is one of the most elusive and rare wild animal species. The state of

Jammu and Kashmir, with a potential habitat of 77,800 km2, is the largest continuous

habitat for the snow leopard in India occupying c. 60% of its national distribution range

(Anon 2008). Thus the State needs to play a critical role in the conservation of this

charismatic species in India. While there have been significant developments in research

and conservation initiatives in Ladakh region of the State, basic understanding of the

distribution of snow leopard and its prey remains poor for the Kashmir region. This can

mainly be attributed to the insurgency going on for more than two decades. The

situation has improved now, thus providing an opportunity to build the much needed

baseline information for species such as the snow leopard (Ranjitsinh et al 2005, Ahmad

et al. 2009, Bhatnagar et al 2009, Ahmad et.al. 2010, Ahmad 2014).

We have taken this opportunity to establish the first baseline information on the status

and distribution of snow leopard and its prey in Kashmir region – the main goal of the

current study. We also recorded the major threats to snow leopard and its prey so that

steps are taken to mitigate such threats. Such baseline information is a pre-requisite to

plan effective strategies for long term management and conservation of the snow

leopard, its prey species and habitats.

In this study we have been able to build baseline information on snow leopard and its

prey and documented the major threats to their survival in Kashmir. Knowledgeable

people such as former hunters, pastoralists and shepherds who have been using the

areas in and around our study site, were identified as key informants. We had

interactions and long discussions with these informants to record the relevant

information about the occurrence of species was discussed with them. We had designed

questionnaires to collect information information from the key informants regarding the

evidence of presence of snow leopard and its prey and the threats they have been

facing. In a few areas such as Sindh and Jhelum Valley, we conducted foot surveys to

record the evidences of presence of snow leopard and its prey.

We documented the occurrence of snow leopard in Kashmir for the first time, which

will now open the way to initiate research and conservation initiatives in otherwise

neglected subject. The Gurez-Tilel and Sindh seemed the high potential snow leopard

distribution areas whereas Kajinag a moderately potential snow leopard site. The

Gurez-Tilel and Sindh being connected to the Trans-Himalayas, country’s best snow

leopard area, which further increases its importance in snow leopard conservation. The

Gurez-Tilel and Sindh have ibex, musk deer and marmots as the main prey species

whereas Kajinag offers markhor and musk deer as the snow leopard prey. Retaliatory

killings, habitat fragmentation and habitat deterioration were the major threats for

snow leopard whereas hunting for meat and trophy and livestock grzing were the

threats to Ibex and markhor. Rampant poaching of musk deer for musk continues

especially in Gurez-Tilel and Sindh which has taken the toll of the endangered deer.

Livestock grazing accompanied with herders and the herding dogs is happening across

these snow leopard habitats disturbing the prey species. It was surprising to see the

contrasting effects of insurgency on snow leopard. In areas such as Sindh, shepherds

used to hire hunters to kill snow leopard for livestock depredation, which has reduced

due to security concern. But in Gurez-Tilel which is close to LoC, construction of

military bunkers and other infrastructure have disturbed the snow leopard habitat

resulting in decline of snow leopard. The major land use practices in and around these

habitats include the livestock grazing, fodder collection and agriculture.

Objectives: The purpose of the project was to establish the baseline about the status and

distribution of snow leopard and its prey and understand the threats they face. There is

currently no documented information about the status and distribution of snow leopard

in Kashmir. Except Kajinag, we also have no baseline information available for snow

leopard prey in Kashmir. This study will fill the gap by establishing the baseline

information. The high potential snow leopard habitats will be mapped and prioritized

for conservation by involving the State Wildlife Department. The steps to curb poaching

and other threats will be discussed with the Wildlife Department to initiate mitigation

of such threats.

Study or activity site

The current study focused on the high altitude area of Kashmir Region of the J&K State.

The main valleys/areas to be covered included Pirpanjal (Banihal pass-Gulmarg),

Kajinag-Shamshabari, Gurez-Tilel Valley, Sindh Valley Brengi Valley Lidder Valley.

The Greater Himalaya covers Kashmir from south to north while the Pirpanjal covers it

from south to west (Figure 1). The Lidder Valley and Sindh Valley are adjacent to each

other and are connected, so are the Sindh and Gurez-Tilel Valley They are important

catchments of three important nullah/rivers viz, Lidder, Sindh and Kishenganga.

Kishenganga Valley is the vast valley and is actually a part of the Neelam Valley.

Kishganga River separates the Neelam and Kishenganga valleys. The Kajinag consists

of Shamshabari and Kazinag mountain areas which are contiguous and form the

important habitat for markhor. They are separated from the main Pirpanjal (Banihal

pass-Gulmarg) by River Jhelum.

The current study was the initial phase where we undertook the extensive surveys in

the entire landscape largely based on interviews from key informants with a few select

areas to collect information through direct surveys to assess the status of the snow

leopard and its prey species. Based on the outputs of the current study 3 potential snow

leopard sites have been identified to be focused for future research and conservation

action.

Methods

Methods such as transect surveys, camera-traps and non-invasive genetic sampling may

not be practical for monitoring wildlife status over large areas within a limited time

period and budget (Jackson et al., 2006, McCarthy et al., 2008, Sharma et al., 2014). We

therefore started with secondary date collection through interviews. We divided the

study area into forest ranges and went to every range to interview the knowledgeable

people such pastoralists (gujjars and Bakkarwals), shepherds using these ranges. For

migratory herders we mainly interviewed them at their entry to Kashmir (early

summer) and while they leave Kashmir (early autumn). We also went to the alpine and

subalpine pastures in many areas to interview these herders. The study area was

divided broadly into recognised sites/valleys such as Lidder valley, Bringi Valley,

Gurez-Tilel valley. These sites were further divided into forest ranges and went to every

range to interview the knowledgeable people such pastoralists (gujjars and

Bakkarwals), shepherds using these ranges. Migratory herders were also interviewed at

their entry to Kashmir (early summer) and while they leave Kashmir (early autumn).

Key informants were interviewed from villages around each forest range. In almost

every village we searched for old hunters, shepherds and other knowledgeable people

who have knowledge of the area and its wildlife. The reliability of the interviewees’

knowledge was cross-checked by their identification of snow leopards pictures and a

brief interaction with them. Data gathered from key informants included information of

sightings or records of the species before insurgency (around 1988-89 as most of people

here remember this date and refer to it usually) and current (2015-16). Atleast ten

respondents were interviewed per range. Direct sightings, hunting reports and livestock

depredation incidents were regarded as the strong evidence of snow leopard presence.

Direct sightings and hunting reports were taken as the strong evidence of presence of

the prey species.

Since the data gathered from informants was from two time periods, we thus included

questions that indicated perceived population trends of the species from the past to the

current. The major reasons/factors for any negative change in population were

discussed. The causes for change (if any) in the frequency sightings/hunting reports or

the livestock depredation with the similar effort during the two defined periods were

inquired and discussed. We assessed threats to the snow leopard and its prey by

collating information based on direct observations, speaking with key informants and

personnel from the Forest and Wildlife Departments posted in the region.

The presence of snow leopard and its prey was established when there were strong

reports of presence of snow leopard and its prey. Decline or increase of snow leopard

and its prey was considered when the same interviewee with the same effort indicated

such a change. The reasons behind such a change was discussed with the interviewee.

We inquired and discussed the major threats with the informants in the areas where

declining trend of snow leopard was reported. The major threats have been listed

according to their seriousness. On the basis of these results, areas/valleys with the

strong reports are marked accordingly for the future action.

Results

We conducted a total of 137 interviews across the 20 forest ranges and 12 divisions in

Pirpanjal, Kajinag, Kishenganga, Gurez-Tilel, Sindh, Lidder and Brengi areas of

Kashmir. The interviewee included 52 migratory herders, 37 hunters, 28 shepherds,

and 20 others (locals and forest officials), aged between 30-95 years. Three of the ranges

could not be surveyed because of the unrest. We however, interviewed the migratory

herders who have been using these areas. The strong reports of snow leopard presence

came from Gurez-Tilel and Sind areas whereas moderate reports were from Kaj inag-

Shamshabari (Figure 1). We reported ibex, musk deer and marmot as main prey species

for snow leopard in Gurez-Tilel and Sindh whereas it is markhor and musk deer in

Kajinag-Shamshabari.

Figure 1. Map showing distribution of snow leopard in Kashmir

The major threats to snow leopard included retaliatory killings for livestock

depredation, poaching and habitat fragmentation. The prey species ibex and markhor

are poached for meat and trophy whereas musk deer is poached for musk. The livestock

grazing and disturbance through herding dogs also is a threat especially to the prey

species. Same herders many a times get involved in retaliatory killings and poaching.

Poaching is high in the areas outside protected area network such as Gurez-Tilel.

The insurgency has played contrasting roles depending on the location of the area. In

Sindh area where shepherds used to hire hunters to snow leopard in retaliation, such

retaliatory killings stopped for quite some time as hunters were not allowed to take

arms with them due to security reasons. But areas such as Gurez-Tilel which are close to

LoC, construction of bunkers and other disturbance along the snow leopard habitat

have impacted the snow leopard negatively.

These areas especially the Gurez-Tilel are on low priority as for as the wildlife research

and conservation is concerned. The current study highlights the importance of these

areas and the prevailing threats thereof. This information will be provided to Wildlife

Department and other Wildlife NGOs working in the State to save the important

wildlife species such as snow leopard and its prey on priority.

Discussion

The presence of snow leopard was for the first time documented from Kashmir region

of the J&K State. Our results show that the Gurez-Tilel and Sindh are the snow leopard

strongholds whereas Kajinag-Shamshabari is a potential area. Ibex, markhor, musk

deer and marmot form the major prey species. Both the areas (Gurez-Tilel and Sindh)

are contiguous to one of the snow leopard hot spots – The Trans-Himalayas which

makes them crucial for snow leopard conservation. Most of the potential habitat falls

outside Protected Area Network, which makes these species more vulnerable to

poaching and retaliatory killings.

The insurgency in Kashmir has played contrasting roles depending on the site location.

In Sindh, shepherds used to hire hunters for killing of snow leopard in retaliation of

depredation of livestock (sheep), such killings stopped for quite some time due to

security concern as the hunters could not go to these areas with the gun. But in Gurez-

Tilel area, the closeness to LoC has resulted in disturbance due to the construction of

military bunkers, destroying the critical habitats of the snow leopard. Gurez-Tilel also

completely lacks the presence of Wildlife Department and has been a hub for poaching,

declining the prey also. However, Wildlife Department is planning to bring some area

in Gurez-Tilel under PA Network now and this study will help them in prioritizing the

area for conservation.

We have identified the three sites which need immediate focus towards conserving

snow leopard and its habitat. Wildlife Department has to be informed and involved in

protecting these high potential snow leopard sites and first PA for snow leopard in

Kashmir can be proposed. The camera trap and foot surveys are required to estimate

the population of snow leopard and its prey in the identified sites. Conservation

measures have to be initiated to control the poaching and retaliatory killings. The

critical sites of snow leopard and its prey need to be released from the disturbance.

Awareness programmes among major stake holders such as locals, shepherds,

pastoralists, students and security forces regarding the importance of conservation of

snow leopard need to be taken up immediately. Such programmes can be organized

with the help of Wildlife Department, wildlife NGO’s and Universities.

Acknowledgements:

We thank the Department of Forests for their support and co-operation to conduct this

study in the entire valley. We would like to thank Department of Wildlife Protection for

their co-operation and support. Thanks are due to Dr. Jagdish Kishwan, Mr. A.K. Singh.

Mr. Suresh Chugh, Dr. Rahul Kaul. Dr. Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Mr. Nisar Darzi, Mr.

Rashid Naqash, Mr. Koustubh Sharma, Mr. Neeraj Sharma for their kind support and

guidance. We are gratelful to Mr. Irfan Shah, Mr. Rauf Zargar, Mr. Intesar Suhail, Mr.

Maqbool Baba, Mr. Sadiq Mir to support us during the field visits in Pirpanjal, Jhelum

valley, North Kashmir and Sindh . We thank the field staff of Forest and Wildlife

Departments to help us in their areas of posting especially Pirpanjal, Jhelum Valley,

north Kashmir and Sindh. We thank all the interviewee for giving their precious time

and valuable information. Thanks are due to Poonam Chandel for helping with the

map.

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